Means for retaining the brass in a journal box and limiting lateral journal movement



May 3, 1962 K. A. KLINGLER 3,033,617 MEANS FOR RETAINING THE BRASS IN A JOURNAL BOX AND LIMITING LATERAL JOURNAL MOVEMENT Filed Aug. 17, 1959 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 i IN V EN TOR.

May 8, 1962 K. A. KLINGLER MEANs FOR RETAINING THE BRASS IN A JOURNAL BOX AND LIMITING LATERAL JOURNAL MOVEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17 1959 2 Hui fiv m/ fm a j in Unite States 3,033,617 MEANS FOR THE BRASS IN A JOUR- NAL BOX AND LIMIT NG LATERAL JOAL My inv'entionrelates to improvements in railroad car axle journal stops and means for preventing displacement of the bearing brass and the stops in a railroad car axle journal box.

One object of my invention is to provide an assembly which may be prepared and inserted in the journal box by unskilled labor without modification of :or addition to the box and with simple -unspecialized toolage.

Another object is to provide in such journal box without modification thereof supporting means for a railroad car axle journal lubricator.

Another object is toinhibit undesired dislocation of the elements contained within a railroad car axle journal box.

.Other :objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein.-

FIGURE 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a railroad car axle journal box showing parts in elevation;

FIGURE 2 is a section looking in the direction of the arrows along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section along the line .3=3 of FIGURE .1;

FIGURE 4 is a section along the line .44 .of FIGUREjl.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

The cast metal journal box 1 is open at both ends to receive the axle 2 and permit access to the box. The open front end of the box and its cover are omitted in the interest of clarity as their details form no part of the present invention. The axle terminates in a journal 3 flanged at 4 near the front of the box. Horizontally disposed flanges 5 extend inwardly from the wall of the box on both sides thereof below the central axis of the journal. The opposite walls of the box are exteriorly recessed at 6, the recesses extending throughout the entire height of the box. These recesses define pockets 7 on each side of the box wall, the pockets being bounded at bottom by the flanges 5, at the rear by the apertured inboard wall 8 of the box and at front by the wall where it is recessed at 6.

The flanged bearing brass rides on the journal 3. The flanged wedge 10 interlocks with and rests on the brass 9 and the load of the car is applied through the top wall 11 of the box 1 to the wedge 10. Socketed in the pockets 7 on each side of the journal, extending upwardly from the flanges 5 to the top of the box are elastomeric journal stops 12 which extend above and below the central axis of the journal. The bearing brass is upwardly flanged at its rear end at 13 and curved in that area as is usual to conform to the curvature of the journal and the axle. A thrust plate 14 interlocking with and riding on the brass is interposed between the flange 13 and the end of the wedge 10. The forward end of the wedge terminates in a nose piece 15 apertured at 16.

The wedge, the brass and the elastomeric stops are biased yieldingly into proper working relationship by the keeper or holding spring which forms an essential part of my invention. The keeper is positioned by its interlock with the wedge at one end, extends around the wedge and brass on both sides of the axle to be anchored at its rear end on the thrust plate. The keeper, the stops and the I ate thrust plate are additives to the usual contents of the journal .box. The other elements above described are standard, usual and well understood and it is to hold those parts together in the proper working relationshipand to prevent displacement which would otherwise be dan gerous that my device is added to he contents of the journal box.

Bolts 17 adjacent opposite ends of the thrust plate 14 e are engaged by loops 18, the spring extending across the thrust plate 14 between the loops on the side of the plate furthest removed from the wedge and may, if desired, be upwardly bowed between the loops. 7

The spring on both sides of the journal extends downwardly, horizontally and then diagonally outwardly to a horizontal loop 19, then inwardly and horizontally to a stirrup 2d, the stirrup being generally at the same level as the axis .of the journal, there being a stirrup on each side of the journal. The springQn each side extends up- .wardly fromthe stirrup 2,0 to a cross member 21, the cross members terminating indownwardly extending apertured interlocking stubs '22. Thus the spring element on each side of the journal is anchored ateach end. The horizontal element 19 interlocks with the journal stop 12 to hold it into relationship with the flange 5 and the journal .box walls.

The nose 15 on the wedge engages the box wall 23 to limit movement of the wedge .in a direction toward the .opendoor of the box. Whenthe journal tendsto rnove to the right, for example in FIGURE 1, the shoulder 24 on .the journal contacts the brass and urges the brass toward the right. This causes the flange 13 to engage the thrust .plate 14 to applya .pressure to the wedge urging it toward the right. The wedgeis freeto respond to ,thatpressure until the nose IS engages the nose 23 .at whichtime movement stops. Movement in the other direction is resisted at the other end of the axle by a similar arrangement.

Thus excessive axial movement of the journal while the axle is rotating is inhibited but the pressure elements that inhibit it are not subject to rotary friction and wear except at the point between the journal and the brass where proper lubrication can be applied. Wear of the wedge is dangerous. Wear on the axle flange is dangerous but Wear localized as it is by this arrangement can be compensated for and avoided.

In order to prevent excessive radial displacement, the elastomeric axial stops are located, one on each side of the journal box. These stops can easily be put in place and they will buffer or cushion occasional radial displacement, being held as they are at all times in position by the keeper above referred to.

By my arrangement the wedge and the hearing or brass are flexibly held together in fixed relationship by the keeper so that they cannot be separated in actual operation and so that they are held together to be contacted by the axial stops under all circumstances. Thus it is impossible for the wedge or the brass under operating circumstances to slide down either together or separately around the axle to a position below their normal working I load supporting position.

30 is a railroad car axle lubricator, the details of which form no part of the present invention and hence are not illustrated. The lubricator which is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 824,864, filed July 3, 1959, is supported in the area below the journal 3 by hangers 31 which are hooked onto the stirrups 20 so that the lubricator is held in contact with the journal out of contact with the journal box by the keeper from which said hangers depend.

I claim:

1. In combination in a railroad car axle journal box, a journal, a bearing brass thereon, a wedge between the brass and the top of the box, buffer pads on either side of the journal extending above and below the axis of the journal, at flexible keeper extending from one end of the wedge downwardly on both sides of the journal, interlockingwith the buffers to press them yieldingly against the box Wall, toward the opposite end of the wedge and upwardly to interlock with the wedge.

2. In combination in-a railroad car axle journal box, a journal, :1 bearing brass thereon, a wedge between the brass and the top of the box, buffer pads on eithter side of the journal extending above and below the axis of the jaurnal, a flexible keeper extending from one end of the wedge downwardly on both sides of the journal, interlooking with the buffers to press them yieldingly against the box wall, toward the opposite end of the wedge and upwardly to interlock with the wedge, and a lubricator below the journal removably interlocking with the keeper, in contact with the journal and out of contact with the box.

3. In combination in a railroad car axle journal box, a journal, a bearing brass thereon, a wedge between the brass and the top of the box, buffer pads on either side of the journal extending above and below the axis of the journal, a flexible keeper extending from one end of the wedge downwardly on both sides of the journal, interlocking with the buffers to press them yieldingly against the box wall, toward the opposite end of the wedge and upwardly to interlock with the wedge, the brass being flanged, the flange extending upwardly adjacent one end of the wedge, a thrust plate carried by the brass between the flange and the end of the Wedge.

4. In combination in a railroad car axle journal box, a journal, a bearing brass thereon, a wedge between the brass and the top of the box, bufler pads on either side of the journal extending above and below the axis of the journal, a flexible keeper extending from one end of the wedge downwardly on both sides of the journal, interlocking with the butters to press them yieldingly against the box wall, toward the opposite end of the wedge and upwardly to interlock with the wedge, the brass being flanged, the flange extending upwardly adjacent one end of the wedge, a thrust plate carried by the brass between the flange and the end of the wedge, the keeper being rigidly attached to the thrust plate.

5. In combination in a railroad car axle journal box, a journal, a flanged bearing brass thereon, a wedge interlocking with the brass contacting the top of the box, a thrust plate perpendicular to the axis of the journal interlocking with the brass at one end thereof and interposed between the flange and the end of the wedge, a two-part flexible wire keeper, each part rigidly attached to opposite ends of the plate, each part extending downwardly on opposite sides of wedge and brass, then forwardly along both sides of the journal and then upwardly on both sides of wedge and brass to interlock with the brass at the end opposite to the thrust plate.

6. In combination in a railroad caraxle journal box, a journal, a flanged bearingbrass thereon, a wedge inter,- locking with the brass contacting the top of the box, a thrust plate perpendicular to the axis of the journal interlocking with the brass at one end thereof and interposed between the flange and the end of the wedge, a flexible wire keeper anchored at one end on the thrust plate extending downwardly on both sides of the wedge and brass, then forwardly along both sides of the journal and then upwardly on both sides of the wedge and brass and interlocking with the wedge at a point beyond the edge of the brass.

References (Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

